Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

The Magic Of Metal

  • Home
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • CHIEF SHOCK VIDEO
  • Metal Shock Times
  • PARTNERS
  • WhoWeAre
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • MSF STAFF
    • We Recommend…

Worldwide Vote Opens for AFRICA.ROCKS Soundcheck 2026

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 28, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: AFRICA.ROCKS Soundcheck. Leave a comment

AFRICA.ROCKS has opened the public vote for Soundcheck 2026, a rehearsal-based video competition that puts African bands in front of listeners far beyond their own local circles. For a lot of heavy music outside the usual industry centres, visibility is still half the battle. Soundcheck was built as a practical response to that. It gives bands across Africa a shared platform, asks for one original song performed live, and then puts that work in front of a worldwide audience through one official vote. Soundcheck came out of AFRICA.ROCKS’ daily work covering African rock and metal, and the need to give bands a practical platform of their own.

The first-round videos are now live, and public voting is open worldwide through the official AFRICA.ROCKS vote page only. Social media likes, shares, comments and reactions do not count as votes. The ten participating bands are Aliens in Oceans and Mysanthrium from South Africa, Cartagena from Tunisia, Chovu from Kenya, Dikamba from Angola, Grey and SLA.ID from Madagascar, Nakaka Vibration Band from Malawi, and Pagan Ulver and Tagrest from Morocco.

The public vote runs until 9 May 2026 at 23:59 GMT. The five bands with the highest valid vote totals will move on to the final round, where they will need to return with a second video featuring a different original song. From there, a five-person jury will choose the winner, who will receive a USD 250 cash prize.

  • Vote here: https://africa.rocks/soundcheck-2026-public-vote/
  • Read more about Soundcheck 2026: https://africa.rocks/soundcheck/

Watch all 10 first-round entries:

Germany’s SCRAPER to Release New Album “Infinite Journey” on May 8th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 28, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: SCRAPER. Leave a comment
Photo by Scraper

SCRAPER from Marl within Germany’s Ruhr area has stood for an energetic blend of Progressive, Thrash, and Death Metal since 2016. The five-piece line-up — featuring vocals (C. David), guitars (T. Wimmer, S. Lück), bass (S. Royal), and drums (R. Schönberg) — combines technical precision with complex song structures and an intense, dark atmosphere.

Musically, SCRAPER moves between aggressive heaviness and conceptual depth. Their new album “Infinite Journey” is a science-fiction concept work that explores the boundaries between human, machine, and consciousness, creating a cohesive overall narrative both musically and thematically.

The two singles, “The Infinite Journey” and “Cold Resistance”, were released in advance, along with their accompanying videos.

In recent years, the band has shared the stage with renowned acts such as Disillusion, Exumer, Tankard, and Holy Moses — performances that have established SCRAPER as a serious force within the German Metal scene.

FFO: Kreator, Voivod, Disillusion

Artwork: Timon Kokott

Label: metalloscope-music

⫸ Order
⫸ Streaming
⫸ Bandcamp

TRACKS
📺 01. The Infinite Journey 5:07
02. Hunger Within 4:52
03. Progenies Of the Void 3:46
04. Epitome Of Obliteration 4:17
📺 05. Cold Resistance 4:29
06. Anatomy Of Devastation 4:32
07. March Of The Shattered 3:59
08. Battleborn 5:03
09. Inheritance Of The Grand Design 8:13

total: 44:23 min.

The band itself says about the new album:
“‘Infinite journey’ is a musical journey through a science fiction story. This concept-album deals with the process of the eternal cycle. A soundtrack about creation, realization and destruction, in which the music, lyrics and artwork are equally important. (And we are very happy that ‘Infinite Journey’ has become a coherent, balanced and exciting album.) Join the Journey!”

SCRAPER • Next show
May 15 • w. Starseed + Täufer • Germany
tba
[ Dates » ]

LINE-UP
Carsten David • Vocals
Tobias Wimmer • Guitar
Sebastian Lück • Guitar
Simon Royal • Bass
Ralf Schönberg • Drums

DISCOGRAPHY
2023 • Hunger Within • Full-length
2026 • Infinite Journey • Full-length

More info: https://www.facebook.com/scrapermetal/

AT THE GATES’ New Album “The Ghost Of A Future Dead” Out Now

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 28, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: At The Gates. Leave a comment

Swedish melodic death metal pioneers At The Gates released their new studio album “The Ghost of a Future Dead”, worldwide via Century Media Records.

The follow-up to 2021’s wildly adventurous “The Nightmare of Being”, this At The Gates album “The Ghost of a Future Dead” marks a special tribute to frontman Tomas Lindberg, who tragically passed away in September 2025.

“Tomas Lindberg’s last act is one of his finest, as At The Gates show why they were the best ever to do it on incendiary final album.” – 5/5 review / Kerrang! (UK)

“At The Gates’ emotional epitaph to frontman Tomas Lindberg is their greatest triumph in the face of tragedy.” – 9/10 review / Decibel Magazine (USA)

The album can be purchased from this location: https://atthegates.lnk.to/TheGhostofaFutureDeadNE

You can now also check out a new video by longtime At The Gates collaborator Costin Chioreanu for the album song “In Dark Distortion” here:

Metal Blade Records & BraveWords Announce Landmark Partnership to Bring “Metal Mondays” to Global Audience

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 28, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: BRAVEWORDS, Metal Blade Records, Metal Mondays. Leave a comment

Metal Blade Records and BraveWords today announced a powerful new partnership to bring Metal Mondays, the fast-growing interactive audio trivia experience, to BraveWords.com.

Already building a passionate and competitive player base across iOS and Android, Metal Mondays has quickly established itself as a weekly ritual for metal fans. Now, for the first time, the experience will be fully integrated into one of the world’s leading metal media platforms – dramatically expanding its reach and impact.

The BraveWords rollout began Monday, April 20th, marking a major milestone in the evolution of the platform.

Metal Mondays has proven its staying power, with fans returning week after week to test their knowledge, discover new music, and compete for leaderboard dominance. The move to BraveWords.com represents the next phase – taking an already successful product and placing it directly in front of millions of deeply engaged metal fans.

Players can expect the same addictive format, now more accessible than ever:

• Audio-driven trivia spanning decades of metal
• Competitive gameplay with global leaderboards
• Opportunities to win exclusive prizes
• Deep dives into Metal Blade’s legendary catalog and beyond

What began as a mobile-first experience now evolves into a fully embedded, web-based destination – meeting fans where they already live, read, and breathe metal.

“Metal Mondays has already shown that fans are hungry for new ways to engage with the music beyond streaming,” said Brian Slagel, CEO of Metal Blade Records. “By partnering with BraveWords, we’re amplifying something that’s already working – bringing it to a massive global audience and making it even more accessible.”

“We’re always looking for ways to deepen engagement with our audience,” said Tim Henderson, CEO of BraveWords. “Metal Mondays stood out immediately – it’s proven, it’s sticky, and it taps directly into the competitive spirit of metal fans. Bringing it to BraveWords is a natural and exciting next step.”

The partnership transforms BraveWords.com into more than a destination for news – it becomes an interactive hub where fans can play, compete, and explore.

Metal Mondays encourages players to:

• Rediscover classic tracks and explore deep cuts
• Engage more deeply with artists and the Metal Blade catalog
• Return weekly for new challenges and evolving competition
• Participate in a shared global experience rooted in metal culture

It also creates new opportunities for sponsorship, advertising, and fan engagement through gamified media – an emerging frontier in music and entertainment.

About Metal Blade Records
Founded in 1982 by Brian Slagel, Metal Blade Records is one of the most influential labels in heavy music history. With a legacy spanning over four decades, the label continues to shape the genre through groundbreaking artists, innovation, and a deep connection to the global metal community.

About BraveWords
Founded in 1994, BraveWords is a premier destination for heavy metal news, interviews, and culture. With a global audience of dedicated fans, BraveWords has become a trusted voice and essential platform within the metal ecosystem.

About Metal Mondays
Metal Mondays is a weekly interactive audio trivia game that challenges fans to identify songs, artists, and genres while competing for leaderboard rankings and prizes. Originally launched on iOS and Android, the platform has built a growing and highly engaged player base, combining music discovery with competitive gameplay.

Metal Mondays is developed and powered by Pantheon Media and Spooler Media, leaders in audio innovation and next-generation fan engagement.

DOWN Release Cover of Dr. John’s ‘Right Place, Wrong Time’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 28, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: Down. Leave a comment
Photo by MetalDave Media

DOWN’s special cover of Dr. John’s ‘Right Place, Wrong Time’, released in video form for a limited time to celebrate Mardi Gras earlier this year, is currently available on all streaming platforms!

New Orleans native Dr. John was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. His music combined New Orleans blues, jazz, R&B, soul, and funk. ‘Right Place, Wrong Time’ was the first single from Dr. John’s 1973 album, In the Right Place, and became the most popular single of his career. The song has been featured in various films and television shows, including Dazed And Confused and American Horror Story: Coven. DOWN’s cover of ‘Right Place, Wrong Time’ is an homage to Dr. John and his appearances on The Midnight Special TV series, a late night musical variety show that aired from 1972 to 1981.

Stream DOWN’s rendition of Dr. John’s ‘Right Place, Wrong Time’ HERE.​

In related DOWN news, the band will serve as direct support to Slayer on the special 40th anniversary of Reign In Blood show September 4th in Shakopee, Minnesota. Additional support will be provided by Suicidal Tendencies and Hatebreed. In December, DOWN will headline day two (December 5th) of this year’s edition of the Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest Denver. The appearance marks the band’s first Denver appearance in over twelve years! See all confirmed DOWN shows below.

Earlier this month, Nuclear Blast Records announced the release of a remastered edition of Over The Under. Initially released in the autumn of 2007, DOWN’s third studio album was produced by Warren Riker and served as a true moment in time delivering over 60 heartfelt minutes of sonic frustration with songs addressing the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and personal turmoil.

The 2026 edition of Over The Under features remastered audio by Eric Koondel (Soilwork, Cynic, Malevolent Creation, Death) and marks the first time the LP will be officially available in the US market. Additionally, the CD and digital versions include bonus track “Invest In Fear” (the first time the track will be available on a US physical release and on Digital Service Providers worldwide). .

DOWN’s Over The Under remaster will be available on CD, LP, and digital formats on June 19th. Find preordersHERE.

You know it’s DOWN as soon as you hear them. Currently featuring vocalist Philip H. Anselmo, guitarists Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein, drummer Jimmy Bower, and bassist Pat Bruders, there’s no mistaking those gargantuan riffs, swamp blues leads, crashing drums, and hypnotic howls for absolutely anybody else under the sun. The band upholds a certain tradition that countless fans celebrate, expanding their own musical mythos as they leave its pillars intact and untouched. With a collective resume encompassing Pantera, Corrosion Of Conformity, Crowbar, and EyeHateGod, the quintet puffed out its first haze of sonic smoke from the belly of gritty old New Orleans on the 1995 platinum-selling classic, NOLA. At that moment, they naturally summoned something akin to a ritual, continually partaking in it with critically revered offerings – Down II: A Bustle In Your Hedgerow in 2002, Down III: Over The Under in 2007, Down IV – Part One in 2012, and Down IV – Part Two in 2014. Their shows built a certain live lore with unforgettable runs alongside Metallica and Heaven & Hell, as well as coveted spots on iconic festivals like Download, Soundwave, Ozzfest, and so many others, forever delivering passionate, powerful, pure heavy music you can feel deep down in your soul.

Stand by for updates on new DOWN music in the months to come. 

DOWN Live 2026:
6/03/2026 Sweden Rock Festival – Norje, SE
6/05/2026 Mystic Fest Poland – Gdańsk, PL
6/21/2026 Hellfest – Clisson, FR
9/04/2026 Mystic Lake Amphitheater – Shakopee, MN w/ Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies, Hatebreed [tickets]
10/03/2026 Aftershock – Sacramento, CA
10/24/2026 Sick New World Texas – Fort Worth, TX
12/05/2026 Decibel Metal And Beer Fest – Denver, CO [tickets]

DOWN links
website | facebook | instagram

SEMPER ACERBUS Unleash New Single ‘Omina Sequi’, Feat. JESSE LEACH

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 27, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: SEMPER ACERBUS. Leave a comment

SEMPER ACERBUS has officially raised the stakes in the modern metalcore landscape with their latest single, “Omina Sequi.” The track is a high-octane collaboration featuring Jesse Leach, the Grammy-nominated vocalist of Killswitch Engage. This release serves as a definitive statement from the Del Rio, Texas, five-piece, blending their signature “megaton powerhouse” sound with the soaring, emotive delivery that Leach has championed for decades. Produced, mixed, and mastered by Chris Mora (Upon a Burning Body, Kingdom Collapse) at Warhorse Recordings, the single captures a sonic “explosion of heaviness”. Musically, “Omina Sequi” thrives on a scalding guitar duo and a rhythm section that mirrors an emotional schematic gone nuclear. The track’s title, which translates to “Following Omens,” serves as the perfect vessel for the band’s thematic exploration of the psychological spectrum.

Listen to Following Omens at this location.

Vocalist Nelson Acerbus describes the track as a visionary anthem regarding the pursuit of one’s purpose. The lyrics urge listeners to “breach the surface” and “entrust these omens,” casting aside the hesitation that often plagues the human spirit. It is a song about going “full out” on your dreams and recognizing the signals the universe provides. This message of resilience is a hallmark of the band’s songwriting, which frequently navigates the deep fog of despair to find the light of hope.

Semper Acerbus lineup
Nelson Acerbus (vocals), Jaime Vargas (guitar), Chad Ellason (guitar), Sammy Farhat (bass), Tyler Thomas (drums)

For more information about Semper Acerbus and their “Omina Sequi (feat Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage)” metalcore single, please visit them on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, or Eclipse Records and follow them on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Tidal now!

Posts navigation

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →
  • Chief Shock Video

  • Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! 🌏💚 Click image to watch the video
  • Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
  • Ads

  • Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen.
Kimmo shared: "Esa Kotilainen and I worked on this song some years ago, but it was left unfinished. Now it is completed as a tribute to our 40 years of musical madness together. ‘Aurora Nuclearis,’ featuring and in memory of keyboard player Esa Kotilainen, who is now playing on the cosmic plane." - Click image to watch the video
    Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
  • Metal Shock Finland

    Metal Shock Finland
Website Powered by WordPress.com.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )
    • Join 919 other subscribers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )
    • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar